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Bedfordshire
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These will be uploaded as they become available.
Section notes have to be submitted to the Journal several months in advance
of publication, hence November's notes referring to happenings in September.
June 2010The glint of polished chrome in the moonlight (OK, streetlight) was a sight to be beholden at the April clubnight; a splendid array of machines for such an early season evening. Fish & chips were the speciliality of the day with Martin and his helpers being kept busy buttering bread and brewing tea. A goodly selection of them reappeared, despite the fear of what volcanic ash might do to ancient pushrods and pistons, for both the Spring Run and inaugural Midweek Daytime Run. The Spring Run was particularly risky as John Brooker took us right up to Leicestershire, dangerously close to Iceland. Brilliant route, great pub, beautiful weather, excellent company - perfect. Roger King played it safer taking his run to plane-free Luton and the excellent Mossman Carriage Collection. The crummy weather meant Relay Rally visitors were well down on previous years - but were made very welcome by hosts Martin & Hoppy. May 2010The legend lives on. They said it couldn't be done but the Bedfordshire Intersection Quiz was once again a resounding success. Fourteen teams pitted their wits against a truly varied bag of brain teasers devised mainly by Will Curry. Anglia A topped the qualifying rounds only to be narrowly defeated in the quick-fire final by a shock victory on home turf for Bedfordshire A. Martin Brookman and his team excelled with the catering; huge thanks to everyone who contributed food or help on the night. Springs were heard creaking as the visitors' carriages left the car park. Plans for the Albert Brown Run are finally coming together and this year will start from Wilden (where?). Roads around there are particularly well-suited to the low-powered and veteran machines we love to see on this run. And one last reminder that the Spring Run is now the 18th April. April 2010Before you do anything else grab your diary and the Tippex bottle because Spring is coming early this year - well, the Spring Run is anyway. I hear the Stafford Classic Bike Show is worried about numbers so have asked us to avoid a clash. The run will now be a week earlier on Sunday April 18th; you have been warned. February clubnight took us on a gentle stroll through the section archive. Starting with the newspaper reporting of the very founding of the Section, through to runs, racing, trials and picnics. Memories stirred of days long gone when the sun always shone, pre-war bikes were ridden in anger and Brylcreem was only 6d a tub. Thanks to Nigel for digitising the glass slides and fragile parchments and continuing to maintain the archive for future generations. News later of a charity classic car and bike show in Flitwick in August. March 2010Luckily, thaw set in just before the January clubnight so skis and skates weren't needed but it was still a bit dodgy for bikes. The ever defiant, die-hard Will Curry took to his MZ combo whilst the rest of us softies resorted to the comfort of a fourth wheel, heater and Radio 2. Once tales had been exchanged of how winter never used to bring the whole country to a halt, and how they'd once ridden a Rudge Autocycle for 100 miles through 3-feet high snowdrifts just to get a packet of cigarettes, the gathered masses sat down to beguilling tales of the Bedfordshire Regiment in WWI. Fascinating stories of bravery and sacrifice told by passionate and very knowledgable enthusiast Ashley Atkinson. Further intrigue was added by the display of grenades, shell cases and other paraphenalia of war, brought along by Norman Keighley. As always, an excellent evening. February 2010The lure of excellent (and free) grub brought section members out in droves to the Xmas bash and auction at the December clubnight and, needless to say, they weren't disappointed. Recently retired Chairman Chris Illman brought the auctioneer's hammer down on items aplenty, raising a tidy sum of around £150. The traditional Boxing Day Run was under new management but icy conditions on local roads kept many a bike and rider safe at home by the hearth. About ten hardy souls braved the very cold but sunny conditions and set off from Pulloxhill on a well-chosen route sticking to treated roads. Local rumours of a display of ice-sculptures in the pub disappeared once the riders had been hosed down with coffee and hot soup. The 2010 programme is looking good - check the website if you haven't yet picked up a copy of the listing. Be warned, the quiz approacheth. January 2010In tennis they cry "new balls", in the VMCC they cry "new blood". And such was the theme of the section AGM. Wielding the long knives were retiring Chairman and Secretary, Chris Illman and Ivor Rhodes. Competition to fill these posts was fierce but I fought off all the challengers myself to take the chair [spot the poetic license]. The battle for Secretary was equally non-existent and for a while it looked like we were doomed. But in true fifth cavalry style, Brent Fielder came forward to save the day. Luckily for us, the rest of the committee has bravely stayed on. Chris and Ivor both received well earned votes of thanks from the floor. Also well-earned was the section shield for outstanding efforts during 2009, awarded to Dave Watts. The 2010 section programme is looking pretty exciting including mid-week runs for those who no longer have to suffer the daily grind. December 2009Have pity on those who missed the Autumn Gold Run for it was a real cracker (no seasonal pun intended). Possibly the best attended run of the year with around 30 bikes and a good sprinkling of pillions and passengers - yes, we even had a 3-wheeler with us. Glorious weather, spectacular autumn colours and a great route - what more could you ask? OK, a route card without confusing bits, but who's counting? A few were spotted disappearing into oblivion on the return leg; but I'm afraid the search has now been officially called off. Many thanks to David & Nigel for a splendid run. Clubnight saw yours truly showing a few slides of some of the curiosities found by the roadside whilst motorcycling around our wonderful island. Monuments to people and events otherwise long forgotten. Look out for details of the coming events, arrangements aren't settled quite yet. November 2009The September clubnight enjoyed the continued spell of good weather and lots of bikes came out to play. Once rounded up and herded into the hall their riders were treated to a great start to the indoor season. Richard Browne gave a fascinating insight into racing in the 60s, mainly in exotic places like Malaysia, back when everything was in black & white. His wonderful photographs took everyone back to days when British singles were battling it out with the flashy oriental newcomers, and when safety took second place to having fun. When you are reading this it should be just before the section AGM. Please don't choose that night to start the Winter re-build but come along and let us know what you want from the section. This year is more important than ever as it looks like we shall have new blood in both Chairman and Secretary. Yikes! October 2009After something like 15 years, Chris Illman is standing down as Chairman as he sprints into retirement, or retires into sprinting, depending on how you look at it. We have a nomination for the post but if there's anyone else keen on the job a nomination should be made to Ivor. We had a fine time at the Ace Cafe VMCC day, narrowly missing out to the Anglian Section on the award for best club turnout, but making up for it by eating most of their prize! To save embarrassment, no mention will be made here of one-way streets or lost souls. If only Bonnickson had listed a satnav. Many thanks to Don for an excellent Boundaries Run with its highlight of passing through the wonderful Flamstead Scarecrow Festival, despite the obvious risk of mistaken identities! An excellent turnout of about 16 bikes and the most glorious of Summer days. September 2009Move over Calgary Stampede - no longer can you claim to be The Greatest Show on Earth, that honour goes to the Beds Section Car Park Concours! OK we're deficient in calf-roping but boy what a display of bikes! I counted 61 VMCC eligible bikes but they were coming and going all evening so there were probably several more. All but two were ridden there and all but three were ridden home. Best prewar was a 1935 Velocette MAC, best postwar was a 1971 Bonneville. The Albert Brown Run for bikes of British manufacture was another splendid day out. Two dozen bikes representing every class from several Veterans up to a rule-stretching Post-60 Japanese four (it's the electric start, you see). Unfortunately the run to the museum at Rushden Station couldn't go ahead (blame it on that Beeching chap) and was replaced by a social visit to "The Musgrave Arms". August 2009Whoopee, it's summer! Time for the fur lining to come out of the Belstaff and to swap the Trials Universals for some TT100s. Time indeed to prise the pride and joy from its sterile cocoon and just ride. The June club night extended the invitation, or should that be challenge, to do just that and "ride a bike to Shefford" and, thankfully, many did. The barbeque at Cranfield Social Club seemed a little shy on numbers this year but the weather was kind, the company was good and plenty of grub made it an excellent evening. As always, the section was well represented on the Banbury Run with Roger King taking "best sidecar"; not sure about the bike, but great sidecar! Having left this to the last minute, as always, I'm not absolutely sure of the details for the "Beating the Boundaries Run" so please check for details, but come. July 2009
The May clubnight played host to noggining and much nattering on a fine evening amongst an impressive array of bikes old and, well, some not quite so old. Club members were, of course, just old. Turnout was a bit less at the Musgrave Arms for the Anti-social run but an enjoyable evening was had none the less. The Arthur King Memorial Run for veteran, vintage and girder-fork machines is now beginning to gain pace in its third year with an entry of some thirty bikes. The picture shows the wonderful 1904 Smith (yes, Smith), winner of 'best-veteran' and 'what-do-all-those-levers-do' awards. June 2009Maundy Thursday saw the traditional distribution of fish and chips amongst the hungry and needy of the section, the first hot meal for some since emerging from winter hibernation amongst restoration projects in sheds and garages across the county. The Spring Run (see photo) was a very successful event with a score of fine machines, riders and pillions enjoying a delightful jaunt across the borders into parts of Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire unknown to many of us. Many thanks to John Brooker for organising such an interesting route, excellent lunch stop and splendid weather. Please now enter the Albert Brown Run. May 2009Bedfordshire Section's quiz night is the must-not-miss event for March in this part of the world. Boasting a long reputation for stimulating both brain and stomach, this year was no exception. New teams for both questions and catering excelled and kept that reputation more than intact. But not everything was new, guess who won? - and guess who was second? The full ten points if you said Anglian "A" and the 3Rs (from Northants), respectively. An added bonus to the evening was lovely weather that brought out a goodly collection of splendid machinery, old and new; amazing for what was really still late Winter. Finally, I must humbly apologize for the lapses that have crept into my report recently - giving the wrong month for the fish-and-chip supper and rechristening Don McKeand as Rod McKean. Hope no-one went hungry. Loads to do in the next few weeks; get those wheels rolling. April 2009Despite the Shackeltonian efforts of some committee members, weather conditions for the January clubnight were declared too nasty and the meeting was cancelled. Word has it that a few valiant souls did manage to snow-shoe their way to Shefford for an impromptu noggin & natter in the bar. Rumours that several Husqvarnas were seen in the car park turned out to be untrue; they were actually Huskies. Efforts are underway to try to rearrange Richard Browne's talk on racing later in the year; watch this space. It's that time of year again - time to brush off the cobwebs, grease the joints, then pop out to the garage and get that bike out for the Spring Run (see below). It's going to be a great Summer with no less than five Sunday runs in our programme. Let's prove the cynics wrong and show that Beds section do ride their bikes! March 2009A little late with the report from the Boxing Day run but by all accounts it was jolly successful with over 30 bikes in attendance and a cool £275 raised for our favourite charity, the Ampthill Cheshire Home. Leaving the festive season well behind us we cruised into 2009 in the company of Don McKeand aboard an Enfield, high in the Himalayan hills of India and Bhutan. Celebrating a "big" birthday he treated himself to the Thunderdragon Tour I'm sure you've seen advertised in the glossy classic magazines. And what a treat it was judging by his marvellous anecdotes and wonderful pictures. Narrow mountain roads with frequent landslides, huge drops and no barriers, tea plantations, fortified monastries, curries galore and all courtesy of a slogging 500 single built in Madras - we certainly got the impression he enjoyed it. It wouldn't be fair to mention the bent crashbars - so I won't. February 2009Christmas was celebrated in truly generous spirit in Bedfordshire with an impressive £157 raised for the local Cheshire Home at our inaugural auction. Bargains were aplenty with Chris Illman's hammer dropping on magazine collections and TT programmes at far less than eBay prices. Amongst the more unusual items was a brace of pheasants, a snip at just £6. Remarkably, all the auction items were donated by club members. This year was just a try-out but it was great fun and it's sure to become an annual feature. Hopefully the Boxing Day Run from the Ampthill Cheshire Home was its usual great success but, as I write, that's still in the future - the day after Christmas I seem to recall. It barely leaves time to work out how to connect the new SatNav to a 6V dynamo but it's a good chance to show off that hand-knitted petrol tank warmer. January 2009
An air of great excitement preceded that favourite of all section events - the AGM. Extra stewards struggled to control the seething masses clamoring to re-elect the committee en masse, debate start times and indulge in the perennial whinge about Bedfordshire not being a strong riding section. Highlights were the release of the 2009 programme and the presentation of the Section Shield to the much-deserving Don McKean for unstinting devotion to section activities. The photograph shows Don (left) receiving the award from Chairman Chris Illman. Please note - future evening meetings will be on a strict 8pm for 8.30 basis. December 2008Dark nights are upon us and the number of bikes at section meetings is in serious decline although a few Winter workhorses are happily emerging from Summer grazing, suitably doused in Waxoyl and WD40. Our October club night talk was curiously billed as "Aerial motorcycles?" (sic). Hopefully, the spelling and the ubiquitous question mark meant few were expecting tales of Selly Oak Red Hunters or Square Fours. Instead Jim Woodham treated us to a surprisingly detailed insight into the world of microlights - aeroplanes, that is. Ranging from hang-gliders with chain-saw engines to very sophisticated (and jolly expensive) small aircraft with four cylinder engines and a surprising turn of speed - T E Lawrence emulators watch out! By the time you read this the section AGM will be over and all will be well with the world as we head towards an exciting programme of talks and runs in the new year. November 2008It’s time to find the fleece lining for the Belstaff, dig out the Winter hack, don the thermals and head off to Shefford to enjoy the Beds section monthly indoor events. The season went off to a flying start with a wonderful presentation on the Green Power Challenge from Bob Billington and his team of 11-16 year olds, including the now semi-legendary "Mini-Stig". But the true star was the electric car they had built from sticky-back plastic, old detergent bottles and discarded tea-trays. The idea is to race their rivals around a track for a full 4 hours to see how far they can go before the amperes finally expire. ACC Racing are currently lying an impressive 33rd nationally amidst no less than 360 teams. Great to see that not all kids are hoody-wearing, knife-wielders! And, finally, a quick plug for the usual Boxing Day run - date to be announced! October 2008Isn't it typical, we get an extra 25 words or the chance for a photograph in the section report and what happens in the Bedfordshire Section this month? - not a lot! Club night was a "Noggin & Natter" although that isn't strictly accurate because my dictionary reckons a Noggin is about a quarter of a pint and none of our section has ever been spotted with anything that small. A pleasant evening though with lots of nice bikes and loads of "Natter". Journal deadlines meant it was too late to publicise the change of speaker for the September meeting but well done Don for standing in at short notice - report next month. Evenings are starting to pull in and shed lights are coming on but don't forget our monthly meetings including the AGM in November. Is the section doing what you want, could you help in any way - this is your great chance. September 2008Not sure about all-singing-and-dancing but July certainly has been an all-riding month - who said the Bedfordshire boys and girls don't do runs? The Albert Brown Run this year was again extremely enjoyable even if a road blocked by a car crash did cause minor chaos and the unfavourable weather put the kibosh on the afternoon section. Luckily we had a lovely evening for the car park concours resulting in a great turn-out with lots of visitors - but, strangely, no judging this year. An enforced late change of venue for the Social Run saw a welcome return to the Musgrave Arms, Shillington where, it is rumoured, a bunch of ageing renegade rockers can be found on a semi-frequent basis looking for a jukebox to race to. August 2008A small but select bunch of veteran, vintage & girder fork mounted riders enjoyed the challenge of the Arthur King Memorial Run twisting its way through the back roads of Beds & Herts. A pity that numbers are so low for this well organized event. No such shortage of bikes and riders at the ride-a-bike to Shefford club night in June - oh to be a Turtle Wax shareholder! The annual barbeque at Cranfield managed to draw the rainclouds but not before many had already left home without packing their waterproofs (and spent the evening staring out the window to see if the rain would stop). Good job the excellent and plentiful grub was indoors. A fun ride home indeed for those suffering from 6V lighting. July 2008The month of May was a merry one indeed for the fine people and machines of the Bedfordshire section. The Spring Run saw an impressive 20 bikes on a near re-run of last year's excellent route but this time without the curtain of rain to hide the scenery. Brian Cornwell entertained us admirably at the club night with his reminiscences from 50 years of motorcycling combining humorous personal experiences with sporting endeavours and technical talk. The variety of bikes at the anti-social run to the Musgrave Arms in Shillington was nothing short of amazing, including no less than three veterans. And congratulations to section member Ivor Webb who's off to the Isle of Man to receive a loyalty award for an amazing 50 years attendance. June 2008The Bedfordshire gourmet dining experience continued at the April clubnight with the traditional fish and chip supper. A very successful evening, popular with everyone apart perhaps from the North Sea cod population which took quite a hit. But I'm sure they would have derived some comfort from the wonderful collection of bikes that appeared on such a nice evening. Lots more chances to ride those bikes now that Summer is (hopefully) here and we step up to two clubnights each month and even some weekend runs. June sees the Arthur King Memorial run, the ride-a-bike-to-Shefford night and the BBQ outing to Cranfield, followed in July by the Albert Brown run, the car park concours and an evening ride-out. Keep those fingers crossed for good weather. May 2008Certainties in life are few but one to add to the proverbial "death and taxes" is that Anglian "A" team will win the Bedfordshire inter-section team quiz. And, most impressively, they did so again this year. The quiz has become semi-legendary over the last 20 years but change is afoot as Hoppy and Chris Illman are retiring from organizing it, and the ladies who have fed us so splendidly also feel it is time for a rest. Volunteers are sought to prevent a tradition being lost. May sees the start of a busy Summer programme starting with what promises to be a fascinating talk from Brian Cornwell. Then fetch your steeds in from their Winter grazing ready for a canter around on the Spring Run. April 2008The February club night coincided with St Valentines Day but numbers didn't seem to suffer. Indeed, I counted at least ten loved ones that had been brought along - five in the audience and five more left parked outside! An audience of around 80 (attendance, that is, not average age - although, now I think of it...) were entertained splendidly by Phil "Hoppy" Hopkins and the fruits of his search for some often tenuous links between airships and early motorcycle engine manufacturers. April club night is the traditional fish and chip supper night. Then the run season will soon be upon us, starting with the Spring Run on 18 May, the AKM Run in June and the Albert Brown Run in July (see Regs Available). March 2008The January club night featured a very professional, informative and fascinating insight into the operations of the East Anglian Air Ambulance service. Very reassuring to know they're there but hopefully our motorcycling exploits won't cause any of us to need their professional services. The March clubnight sees the Bedfordshire hospitality wagon rolled out once again for the much celebrated intersection quiz. Teams of three are invited to do battle with the Goliaths of old bike trivia, knowing they can console themselves in defeat with some great nosh. Then back on the diet ready for the April fish and chip supper night. It's no wonder we see so few small capacity bikes - with all this gourmet feasting, they can't carry the weight! February 2008Unfortunately Santa himself didn't make it to the December club night but the fine array of Christmas fare would have done him proud. Jolly chilly that night so only three bikes (no sleighs) spotted in the car park. The special Christmas raffle raised about £170 for the local Cheshire Home and this was boosted magnificently by a collection among the 35 or so festive riders setting off from there on the traditional Boxing Day Run. The February club night features Phil (Hoppy) Hopkins investigating the not very obvious link between motorcycles and airships (sorry, we're saving the Ariel motorcycles joke for later in the year). Then all evening leave is cancelled to allow everyone to get down to some serious revision for the March inter-section quiz. January 2008A healthy turnout of more than 35 members ensured true democracy at the section AGM and without the need for UN observers. But changes were afoot. Ivor Rhodes took over as secretary but with an appeal for member participation to help make things happen. New blood was transfused into the committee in the varied forms of Will Curry, Nigel Coote and Chris Dawkins - volunteers all, not a King's shilling in sight. Many thanks to Peter Hall and Lew Birt for their past efforts. But the greatest thanks of the evening went with the award of the Section Shield to the retiring secretary Hoppy (aka Phil Hopkins) for recognition of his untiring efforts, not just over the last 12 months but for the last 30 years! December 2007The lights are coming on in workshops across the County, loved ones have been abandoned, teabags have been stockpiled, and the only good reason to emerge is club night. October saw my own debut as the monthly entertainment, telling tales and showing pictures of the places my motorcycles have taken me including the Himalayas, California, Eastern Europe and New Zealand. The audience was more than generous in its appreciation so I urge others to take centre-stage and tell us what lights your fire, motorcycling-wise. Our December gathering poses the intriguing question - "Do you believe in Santa?". And do you think he'll be able to get a pre-war Speed Twin down my chimney? Don't forget the Boxing Day Run - divorce grounds, if ever there were any! November 2007September's club night saw us ushered reluctantly back indoors for the start of the autumn and winter programme - reluctant, that is, only because of the lovely evening and the fine array of bikes gleaming outside. Once inside Will Curry treated us to an illustrated tour through the intriguing and sometimes surprisingly strange world of motorcycle manuals and handbooks with many examples taken from his own extensive collection, with even the occasional though predictable mention of Ariel motorcycles. The November club night brings the important business of the AGM and the need to find worthy replacements for some key officers. Never an easy task but the deceptively smooth running of the club doesn't happen by accident. Your County needs you! October 2007August club night was a rare nice evening so bikes were out in force and the table-top sale played rather a supporting role to an impromptu beer and natter in the car park. Weather was not so kind for the Beating the Boundaries Run with heavy rain throughout the night before and into the morning putting off all but a brave quartet. Nevertheless, fortune smiled in the unusual form of a broken brake cable and by the time it had been sellotaped together the rain had stopped ready for the venture into Bedfordshire's "outer limits". The October meeting sees yours truly showing pictures of my many motorcycle touring exploits. November is the all-important AGM and, be prepared, Hoppy is standing down as secretary - crisis? September 2007Luckily the Gods turned the taps off leaving the Albert Brown Run with ideal weather. A solid entry from veteran to classic set off from the Milton Keynes museum of Rural Life for an excellent run around the Northants, Bucks and Beds lanes. A splendid event indeed - very well organised. Good weather also ensured a marvelous turn-out for the "car park concours". Over 75 bikes of all descriptions were inspected, criticized, drooled-over and coveted by the gathered masses with a 1940s Royal Enfield v-twin, once again, taking "the bike I'd most like to be left in a will" award. It was pleasing to see many visitors to the club enjoying the display and adding to the spectacle with some very exotic modern machinery. August 2007The first Arthur King Memorial Run took a small but enthusiastic gathering of Veteran, Vintage & girder-fork machines on a splendid tour of the Beds & Herts backroads. Hopefully the huge effort by Roger and his family will be rewarded by better numbers in the future. Inclement weather for the club night's ride-a-bike-to-Shefford theme was disappointing but didn't stop the appearance of some finely preserved relics of Britain's industrial past - and many of them on bikes! My holidays meant I had to write this before the barbeque at Cranfield Social Club but hopefully it was its usual success. August sees the Beating-the-Boundaries run and the Table-top sale, when unwanted bits and unsuspecting punters meet. July 2007A large and appreciative crowd gathered on a damp May club night to hear Roy Price's fascinating account of sidecar scrambling through the 50s and 60s - most enjoyable. Unfortunately, the Spring Run lived up to its name only because a spring can be an abundant source of water - falling non-stop on the dozen riders! A great pity as the route and pub stop were excellent. We finally got lucky with the weather and had a lovely evening for the anti-social run to the Green Man in Eversholt where we were joined by some members of the Chiltern Section on a night off (i.e. mostly modern bikes, tut-tut). Lots happening in July, including the fiercely contested car park concours - pass the Solvol Autosol please. June 2007One swallow sidecar doesn't make a summer but no less than 32 "eligible" bikes (and a few exotic "moderns") at the April club night must be a sure sign of better weather. No speaker this month but a lot of good chat over the traditional fish and chip supper. June club night is "Ride a bike to Shefford" night so let's hope for good weather again to encourage another large turnout. Other highlights in June and July are the Arthur King Memorial Run, the Albert Brown Run, the Car Park Concours, the Cranfield Barbeque and a social night in Bromham with the AMOC. May 2007Shefford Memorial Hall was once again packed to the rafters as over 80 potential Brains-of-Britain displayed their knowledge of ancient and obscure motorcycles, associated personalities, and basic botany in the semi-legendary intersection quiz, now in its 19th year. The main round left most heads spinning but saw Anglian "A" and Chiltern "A" emerge as rivals for the quick fire 80-question final, with the Anglian section eventually victorious. But one question nobody had any problem answering was whether the food was good - of course it was, this is the Bedfordshire section! The month of May features a club night talk by 60s sidecar racer Roy Price, the Spring Run and the evening anti-social run (i.e. find your own way to the venue). April 2007Payback time for all the mild winter weather came at last - one decent snowfall and it would coincide with club night, wouldn't it? I hear about 16 hardy soles still managed to snow-shoe their way to Shefford to see "Chasing Shadows", a film made in 2000 about Vincents. No speaker for the April club night as we'll all have our mouths full with the traditional fish & chip supper. The merry month of May sees the first club run for the season - time to pump up those tyres and grease those bearings. The 2007 Bedfordshire Landmark Challenge should be on the website soon or contact me for a copy; a chance to explore the backroads over the course of the summer. March 2007The January club night was packed with over 80 members eager to learn all about magnetos from Dave Fisher. And they didn't go away disappointed having heard tales of slip rings, face cams and earth brushes - there was even a spot of praise lavished on the much maligned Joe Lucas! The Boxing Day run was well supported with around 30 bikes and riders keen to escape the turkey left-overs. An amazing £247.40 was raised on the day for the Ampthill Cheshire Home who kindly provided refreshments at the start. Only a few days left now to swot up for the intersection quiz night at the March meeting - come and be surprised by the amount of obscure knowledge you didn't even know you knew. February 2007A mild December club night brought out a good few old bikes - and an awful lot of old bikers. A generous bunch they were too with the raffle raising the handsome sum of £140.04 for the local Cheshire Home. The ladies did us proud with excellent festive grub including the essential sausage rolls and mince pies. The 2007 programme was unveiled to a roll of drums and fanfare of trumpets - action packed, as always with a splendid mix of talks, films, runs and food plus the annual quiz. Check out the website for the full programme and loads of other fascinating stuff. February club night features "Chasing Shadows", the film about Vincents. January 2007The November club night saw a good and fairly well-behaved turn-out for the section AGM; the stewards had a quiet evening. Generally favourable reports all round so the committee was voted back in en bloc - and everyone else secretly breathed a quiet sigh of relief. A very popular vote of thanks was made to Ivor Rhodes and his family for their unstinting dedication in organising the Albert Brown Run year after year. The Section Shield was presented to Bob Culver for his outstanding contribution to the section also over many years. Dave Fisher of Moathouse Magnetos will be visiting us for the January club night to talk about, yes you've guessed it, magnetos. Indeed, my own Triumph CN3 bears testament to his abilities. December 2006At the October club-night Hoppy treated us to a fascinating tale of a veteran car with the unlikely name of Adam. The story was originally discovered in a scrap book (The Book of Adam) bought at a jumble. The new-look website is up and running on www.vmccbeds.co.uk and looking for content. The programme for 2007 is progressing well and should be released with a small fanfare at the December club night. The evening will have a distinct seasonal flavour with an evening in Santa's grotto - but don't let that put you off, the grub'll be good! Don't forget the Boxing Day Run - the ideal way to escape the grandkids. January sees a visit from Dave Fisher (Moathouse Magnetos) to talk about, yes you've guessed it, magnetos. November 2006The September meeting saw an impressive array of shiny machines grace the car park for the return to dark evenings. Inside the hall, the unmistakable figure of our own Will Curry took the floor with a talk, nay more a chat, on "motorcycling today" including some interesting cost comparisons from a 1910s Ariel parts price list converted to today's prices. Another interesting observation was that of the fifty and odd people in the room, only five owned up to also owing a machine less than 10 years old. November sees the AGM so come along and have your say in Club affairs, whinge at the committee, then vote them back in for another year because they actually do it all quite well. |
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